Students of Pinyahan Elementary School, supervised by their respective teachers, initiate their 'Catch-up Fridays' program by reading storybooks inside their classrooms on January 12, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/file

MANILA — The Department of Education will "exhaust all means" to sustain programs that will be affected by the freeze on around P4 billion from USAID for its projects.

In a release, DepEd said the freeze in funding ordered by US President Donald Trump will affect programs dealing with early-grade literacy, numeracy and social-emotional learning and that provide support for learners with special needs.

DOH identifying fund sources for HIV and AIDS programs after US aid freeze

Education Secretary Sonny Angara is quoted in the release as saying the department "will exhaust all means to sustain these programs, ensuring that the education of our learners is not disrupted."

He said DepEd will make the most of its budget, work with existing and new partners and "absorb key components of these projects."

DepEd said it has also asked USAID to turnover project materials to make the most of them and will look for alternative funding sources for projects it cannot fund itself.

The department is also hopeful that, given the long partnership between the Philippines and the US, developments in the freeze of foreign aid will help mitigate the impact of the suspension of the projects.

Tens of thousands go hungry in Sudan after Trump aid freeze

"We recognize the tremendous impact of USAID's contributions to Philippine education," Angara said.

"While we await the resolution of this suspension, DepEd will move forward and ensure that [President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s] reforms in education remain on track."

RELATED VIDEO